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Florida Swamp Renovations
Posted on 9/29/25 at 11:29 am
Posted on 9/29/25 at 11:29 am
For a project to cost over 450 million dollars and start in the next 2-3 months there are not a lot of details or pictures of what it will look like. Anybody got any current details or rumors?
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Posted on 9/29/25 at 11:31 am to Coopdog
This is much needed. I was blown away with how dated that dump is. Totally different than I thought it'd be.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 11:32 am to Coopdog
from what i gathered, there are no structural changes happening.
seats are getting removed and updated to be more aligned with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines.
seats are getting removed and updated to be more aligned with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 11:35 am to Coopdog
From those that I know working on some of the proposals, it's still in the RFP stage. I doubt much, if anything, starts in 2-3 months given what stage they're in. Maybe after the 2026 season they'll begin.
And there's been a lot of misinformation out there. Yeah, we're likely to give up ~8,000 seats, but who cares when we suck and don't fill those 8,000 seats anyways. I for one also wouldn't mind more room. The bleachers are aged and terrible.
And there's been a lot of misinformation out there. Yeah, we're likely to give up ~8,000 seats, but who cares when we suck and don't fill those 8,000 seats anyways. I for one also wouldn't mind more room. The bleachers are aged and terrible.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 11:37 am to Coopdog
quote:
For a project to cost over 450 million dollars and start in the next 2-3 months there are not a lot of details or pictures of what it will look like. Anybody got any current details or rumors?
It's not starting in the next 2-3 months, and from recent rumblings it is going to cost well north of $500M. This is going to be done in phases.
They haven't released full details - but there was an indication that they will be adding some capacity to offset losses from going to chairbacks in certain areas.
Most of the initial bids included adding a new seating tier. Potential shade structures.
This post was edited on 9/29/25 at 11:41 am
Posted on 9/29/25 at 11:40 am to Coopdog
quote:
For a project to cost over 450 million dollars and start in the next 2-3 months
Project and final designs on hold until decison to pay Napier and staffs' buyouts are complete
Posted on 9/29/25 at 11:42 am to Coopdog
Seems to me you tear it down and build a new one. If it starts at North of $500m. It will be a billion when it's done, just start over and have the nicest stadium in the SEC.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 11:51 am to lewis and herschel
quote:
Seems to me you tear it down and build a new one. If it starts at North of $500m. It will be a billion when it's done, just start over and have the nicest stadium in the SEC.
This would be a possibility if they hold off until 2030. They're building a new UF golf course about 10 miles from campus, which will open up the current golf course (makes me sad) for development. Perfect for a new stadium, but doubt it happens. Just too much tradition with the Swamp.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 11:53 am to Coopdog
Can you really improve anything in Gainesville?
Posted on 9/29/25 at 12:39 pm to ForeverGator
These stadiums are old as frick. At some point new stadiums are going to be needed.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 12:43 pm to Coopdog
I had heard Stricklin on a podcast last year talking about it. I think the main goal is to improve the aisles, concourses, gates, concessions, so people aren’t standing for 10 mins trying to get in or out of their seat or to get food. Also larger video boards with better audio.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 12:54 pm to finchmeister08
quote:And that costs almost half a billion dollars? Are they replacing them with gold ones?
seats are getting removed and updated to be more aligned with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines.
I was last in there in '99, but back then, when you sat in the upper deck of the north endzone you couldn't see much of anything between the 15 yrd line and the endzone. It's like they built a stadium with no concern for watching the game.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 12:56 pm to Coopdog
quote:it’s a Ponzi scheme to line the pockets of UAA members and bull gators to hire “consultants and contractors” that funnel the money back to themselves
Anybody got any current details or rumors?
Posted on 9/29/25 at 1:01 pm to HarryBalzack
quote:
And that costs almost half a billion dollars? Are they replacing them with gold ones?
I was last in there in '99, but back then, when you sat in the upper deck of the north endzone you couldn't see much of anything between the 15 yrd line and the endzone. It's like they built a stadium with no concern for watching the game.
It's going to be beyond that. There was actually some talk of rebuilding the upper deck since it is the only part not really integrated into the seating bowl.
It's ultimately going to be a huge project. The big question everyone is concerned about is capacity. There is no appetite for a massive reduction from the 90K, which is why they are talking about adding in some areas. One concept is to add another seating level over the east stands.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 1:04 pm to gatorsimz
quote:So, how are they going to pay for that? I would assume that there will have to be some new premium seating in order to make the numbers work.
I had heard Stricklin on a podcast last year talking about it. I think the main goal is to improve the aisles, concourses, gates, concessions, so people aren’t standing for 10 mins trying to get in or out of their seat or to get food. Also larger video boards with better audio.
A&M was lucky to have rebuilt Kyle Field ten years ago. About 60% of the seating is new, but 80% of the infrastructure is new. It cost $450 million at the time. We got donations for about half, and financed the rest through revenue bonds, which was only possible because of the big increase in premium seating.
Doing something like that within the footprint of the Swamp will be a challenge. Penn State is spending $700 million on their project, and it is maybe 1/3 the size of the Kyle Field rebuild.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 1:06 pm to bgator85
quote:Ahh, that could easily go well beyond the estimated price tag. I have to imagine that sinking footings for a structure like that - on top of a pre-existing structure - in the soil type of that area is one hell of an undertaking. They'll have to build a concrete plant in the parking lot.
There was actually some talk of rebuilding the upper deck since it is the only part not really integrated into the seating bowl.
It's ultimately going to be a huge project. The big question everyone is concerned about is capacity. There is no appetite for a massive reduction from the 90K, which is why they are talking about adding in some areas. One concept is to add another seating level over the east stands.
The south and east sides are butted up against buildings, aren't they?
Posted on 9/29/25 at 1:09 pm to HarryBalzack
quote:
The south and east sides are butted up against buildings, aren't they?
Can't expand the footprint south because it is up against the road and the old engineering building.
There is some opportunity on the east despite the old Florida gym. Every architect that bid included an option to the east above the student section.
Ultimately - the $450M price tag was before they really started to get into this. They've floated the idea of building new, but don't think anyone really wants to give up the location. Rather work with the challenges.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 1:53 pm to Billy Blanks
quote:
I was blown away with how dated that dump is. Totally different than I thought it'd be.
Not any worse than the typical SEC stadium. I have gone to at least one game in the Swamp every season since 1980 and will probably end that streak this season. With beer being sold in the stadium and the narrow aisles, you spend the entire game standing up for fans going to buy a beer or to pee. The PA blares rap music during pre game and every timeout unless there is a commercial being played. I will watch from home until some type of renovation takes place to make the experience more pleasant. Chair seating would be an improvement or just more room in the seats and No i am not a 300 lb bitching about it. At 6 feet, 195 I can't enjoy sitting there for a game, add a bad team and I'll watch from my living room.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 1:55 pm to theCAW
Thanks, I was thinking it was after 25 season but I guess I was a yr early.
Posted on 9/29/25 at 2:04 pm to Coopdog
I had heard for many years that the original Orange Bowl had become beyond dated and had descended to absolute trash
It was hard to believe that a place that had hosted 5 Super Bowls could be that bad.
Then I went to a game in 2003. I was legitimately shocked at how bad it was. Borderline dystopian. Like, “Don’t touch that” bad.
All this to say that Kyle Field never got anywhere near that bad, but I can see how iconic places can be beyond salvage.
It was hard to believe that a place that had hosted 5 Super Bowls could be that bad.
Then I went to a game in 2003. I was legitimately shocked at how bad it was. Borderline dystopian. Like, “Don’t touch that” bad.
All this to say that Kyle Field never got anywhere near that bad, but I can see how iconic places can be beyond salvage.
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